Stephanie Mitchell is named Principal of Anne M. Jeans Elementary School

Stephanie Mitchell was employed as Principal of Anne M. Jeans Elementary School at the June 15 CCSD 180 Board of Education meeting. She will begin her tenure at CCSD 180 on July 1, 2004. Ms. Mitchell comes to Anne M. Jeans School from East Aurora District #131, where she served as Assistant Principal of Brady Elementary School for the past three years.

She is a native Chicagoan and hails from Chicago’s north side in the Roger’s Park Community. She attended the Art Institute of Chicago as a small child for many years on the weekends and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign as an art major upon graduation from Chicago’s Sullivan High School.

Later, after traveling the country, marrying, and having children, Ms. Mitchell received her Bachelor’s Degree from North Central College in Naperville, graduating with a double major in Art and in Elementary Education. Stephanie Mitchell began her teaching career in Lisle School District #202 as a middle school art and language arts teacher where she also coached the girls’ award-winning dance team, and sponsored the student council and the art club. Stephanie then taught 5th and 7th grades respectively in the Chicago Public Schools on the city’s near Westside at James Otis Elementary School. In Chicago, Ms. Mitchell was also active in several integrated technology and dramatic arts projects sponsored by the Americore Arts Program at Northwestern University’s Vittum Theater.

Ms. Mitchell obtained her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois in 2001. Currently, she is working on her Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership through National Louis University.

Stephanie now resides in Lisle, Illinois with her two academically and athletically talented teenage sons, one of whom will be attending Michigan State University this fall as an honors student and a pre-med major.

Ms. Mitchell enjoys summer weekend boating activities and a variety of other water sports in Sister Lakes, Michigan, where her family has a home on Magician Lake. During the school year, her weekends are filled attending her sons’ athletic events, attending regular Bears games, volunteering in community fundraisers and visiting with family and friends.

Stephanie also enjoys traveling whenever her busy schedule permits. She loves to plan weekend trips to the sun with her girlfriends or snow skiing trips with her two sons, ages 18 and 15. She has lived in Boulder Colorado, southern California and has visited Greece several times with her entire family.

In other action, the Burr Ridge CCSD #180 Board . . .

. . . employed Ms. Janet Bernhardy as middle school language arts teacher, Mrs. Dyann Kotansky as middle school mathematics teacher, and Ms. Constance Loda as middle school reading specialist for the 2004-05 school year.

. . . accepted, with regret, the retirement of Mr. Greg Mocek effective at the end of the 2004-05 school year.

. . . heard a report about the 2003-04 results of the Fast ForWord Program for both Burr Ridge Middle School and Anne M. Jeans Elementary School. The Fast ForWord® family of products develops the critical thinking, listening, and reading skills that are necessary for success in the classroom, the workplace and in everyday life. Based on over twenty-five years of brain research, Scientific Learning's interactive, adaptive products use patented technology to target the language and reading skills widely recognized as the keys to all learning.

. . . awarded a three-year contract for transportation services to the low bidder, Laidlaw Transit, Inc.

. . . reviewed a letter of nomination written by Dr. Frank Rink and presented the Board’s Award of Excellence to retiring Principal Mr. Charles Accardi.

. . . in view of other financial priorities, opted not to seek bids for the construction of a running track at Anne M. Jeans Elementary School.

. . . approved curricular enhancements to the Burr Ridge Middle School sex education program.

. . . passed a resolution of gratitude to the CCSD 180 PTC and Foundation for Excellence for their financial and service contributions to the district’s schools in FY04 and FY05.

. . . reviewed a favorable report about the 2003-04 child-care program and approved a request by the Burr Ridge Park District to sponsor the Before/After School Child-care Program for 2004-05.

. . . following a presentation by faculty and administration, approved the adoption of the Grades K-5 Macmillan/McGraw Hill science materials at an initial cost of $52,014.60 and the grades 6-8 McDougal-Littell science materials at an initial cost of $15,251.88.

. . . reviewed and approved school district policies relating to Section 600—Instruction.

. . . heard a report by Gifted Coordinator Charles Accardi regarding the past, present, and future interventions for gifted programming at CCSD 180.

. . . reviewed executive session minutes from January 2004 through May 2004 and deemed them no longer confidential and, subsequently, made them available for public inspection.

. . . adopted the DuPage County prevailing wage rate.

. . . approved installation of tile flooring in the Anne M. Jeans School’s learning center, adjoining computer lab, and teachers’ workroom at a quoted cost of $9,495.

. . . established salary and benefits parameters for educational support personnel and administrators for 2004-05. Salary increases are typically consistent with the percentage increase in faculty salaries – 3.00%.

. . . heard reports from the administration including the following reports from superintendent Rink:

Waiver Hearing for Observance of Presidents’ Day Holiday
Illinois Association of School Boards Brochures
Graduation
Football Weight Limits
Hourly Rates for Legal Services
Summer Maintenance
Quotation for 2004-05 Workers’ Compensation Contribution
ISBE Annual Inspection Report
Closing the Gap Grant Expenditures
IASB Leadership Symposium
TOP Officers for 2004-05
Correspondence from Burr Ridge Park District regarding Use of Palisades Park
Police Investigation of Incident Report at AMJES
Semi-annual Report

The Board’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room of Burr Ridge CCSD #180.

Click here to access the actual minutes of this meeting